Arrangement for detachably interconnecting elements

ABSTRACT

An arrangement suitable for detachably securing shelves in a bookcase or the like wherein a step is provided for supporting each shelf on an outward extremity which includes a hook which engages behind a lip formed by an opening in a retainer plate overlapping a recess in each shelf, the engagement being by insertion of the hook in the opening of the retainer plate and turning through a right angle, finally providing a dowel in a hole in the shelf and step so that when the dowel is fitted across the mutual surfaces between the step and shelf the step and shelf are interlocked.

United States Patent [191 Wassberg et al. Y

[451 Sept. 17, 1974 ARRANGEMENT FOR DETACHABLY INTERCONNECTING ELEMENTS [75] Inventors: Yngve Adolf Eugen Wassberg;

Sven-Ake Gustaf-Adolf Wassberg, both of Linkoping, Sweden [73] Assignee: Wa-Konsult Wassberg & Wassberg AB, Linkoping, Sweden [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 291,603

[52] US. Cl. 108/153, 248/239 [51] Int. Cl A47b 3/06 [58] Field of Search 248/250, 240.4, 239, 188,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,553,960 5/1951 De Swan 248/250 2,909,352 10/1959 Van Buren.. 3,127,146 3/1964 Fisher 3,207,100 9/1965 Peacock 248/250 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 885.289 11/1971 Canada ..248/250 1,219,689 12/1959 France Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attorney, Agent, or FirmHolman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT An arrangement suitable for detachably securing shelves in a bookcase or the like wherein a step is provided for supporting each shelf on an outward extremity which includes a hook which engages behind a lip formed by an opening in a retainer plate overlapping a recess in each shelf, the engagement being by insertion of the hook in the opening of the retainer plate and turning through a right angle, finally providing a dowel in a hole in the shelf and step so that when the dowel is fitted across the mutual surfaces between the step and shelf the step and shelf are interlocked.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUSEPI 11924 3.8235794 saw 10!? ARRANGEMENT FOR DETACHABLY INTERCONNECTING ELEMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for detachably interconnecting elements which is suitable for furniture.

The present invention consists in a shelf securing arrangement such as may be used in a bookcase comprising in combination:

i. a shelf provided with a recessed portion,

ii. a retainer fitting overlapping the recess and being provided with an elongated opening allowing access to the recess and forming a lipping portion of the retainer fitting,

iii. a step member for supporting the shelf,

iv. the step member being provided with a hooking portion which when introduced into the recess through the elongated opening of the retainer fitting extends upwards of the lower surface of the shelf and is engageable with the lipping portion of the retainer fitting,

v. bores for dowels extending between the shelf and step member,

whereby the shelf is secured to the step member by insertion of the hooking portion into the recess of the retaining fitting through the elongate holes, and then the shelf is turned relative to the step member through approximately a right angle to engage the hooking portion with the lipped portion, and fitting a dowel between the shelf and step to lock the parts together.

The invention is explained in the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a fitting forming part of an arrangement according to the invention over a recess in one fumiture element;

FIG. 2 shows a section along the line IIlI in FIG. I placed over the recess;

FIG. 3 shows a corresponding section along the line III-III in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an end of a secondfurniture-element forming part of the arrangement according to the invention with a tongue adapted to engage the fitting according to FIG. I seen from the side;

FIG. 5 shows the same end as FIG. 4, but seen from above;

FIG. 6 shows the same end as FIG. 4, but seen in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 4 6 mounted with the tongue fitted into the fitting shown in FIGS. 1 3 and one step substantially parallel to a shelf;

FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of FIG. 7 after the step has been rotated to stand at right angles to the shelf.

There are provided at least two fittings 1, each having an opening 2, and secured in such a way, for instance, by means of screws 3, over the recesses 4 on the underside of, for example, a shelf 5 in a set of shelves that each recess 4 extends from the opening 2 in the longitudinal direction of the shelf.

Two hooks 6 are provided at the ends of projections 7 projecting from the top ends of, for instance, steps 8 in a bookcase. The books 6 are dimensioned to fit the corresponding opening 2 when the upright of this step 8 is placed parallel to the underside of the shelf 5, and to engage the edge of the openings 2 and stick into the underlying part of the recess 4 when the upright step 8 is slewed out to stand at right angles to the underside of the shelf 5. The part of each hook 6 that can be inserted through the opening 2 has an outline formed approximately as a semi-circle whose radius is substantially equal to the length of the opening 2 and in the longitudinal direction of the shelf 5.

The upright step 8 is provided with two bores 9, so arranged that when the upright step 8 is at right angles to the shelf 5 and the hooks 6 have engaged the edges of the openings 2 they shall be in coaxial coincidence with the through bores 10 in the shelf 5. Pins 11 are adapted to fit the bores 9, 10 and, if required, bores (not shown) in an upright step located over the shelf 5, so that the upright step 8 is prevented from turning about the hooks 6.

Although only one form of embodiment has been shown and described above, other forms are possible within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A shelf securing arrangement for use in a book case comprising in combination:

a shelf having two spatially arranged recesses provided on its downward facing side;

retainer means overlapping each of said recesses respectively, each said retainer means having an elongate opening the longitudinal axis of which is aligned lengthwise of the shelf, for providing access to said recesses, said elongate opening forming a lipped portion of said retainer means which extends over a predetermined area of the opening to each of said recesses;

at least two step members for supporting the shelf respectively disposed vicinal to each of said recesses, each of said step members having at one end a laterally disposed extension portion and being swivelably engageable with the shelf from a first position of the shelf to a second position thereof relative thereto whereat to complete said shelf securing arrangement so that the extension portion of each of said step members supportively engages said downward facing side of the shelf; hooking member provided at the distal end of the extension portion of each of said step members, said hooking member having a radiused upper side, the radius of which is equal to the length of said elongate opening, and projecting from the distal end of each said extension portion a distance equal to said radius, for permitting introduction into the elongate opening in respective ones of each said retainer means in said first position of the shelf and consequent hooking and interlocking engagement with said lipped portion of each said retainer means in said second position of the shelf; and locking means for locking the shelf to each one of said step members in said second position thereof.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises locking dowels disposed in pre-formed bores provided at predetermined positions on said shelf and in said one end of each of said step members, respective appropriate ones of the bores in said shelf assuming coaxial alignment with the bores in said step members in said second position of the shelf to form through bores between the shelf and said step members and permit insertion of respective locking dowels therein to lock the shelf and step members together. 

1. A shelf securing arrangement for use in a book case comprising in combination: a shelf having two spatially arranged recesses provided on its downward facing side; retainer means overlapping each of said recesses respectively, each said retainer means having an elongate opening the longitudinal axis of which is aligned lengthwise of the shelf, for providing access to said recesses, said elongate opening forming a lipped portion of said retainer means which extends over a predetermined area of the opening to each of said recesses; at least two step members for supporting the shelf respectively disposed vicinal to each of said recesses, each of said step members having at one end a laterally disposed extension portion and being swivelably engageable with the shelf from a first position of the shelf to a second position thereof relative thereto whereat to complete said shelf securing arrangement so that the extension portion of each of said step members supportively engages said downward facing side of the shelf; a hooking member provided at the distal end of the extension portion of each of said step members, said hooking member having a radiused upper side, the radius of which is equal to the length of said elongate opening, and projecting from the distal end of each said extension portion a distance equal to said radius, for permitting introduction into the elongate opening in respective ones of each said retainer means in said first position of the shelf and consequent hooking and interlocking engagement with said lipped portion of each said retainer means in said second position of the shelf; and locking means for locking the shelf to each one of said step members in said second position thereof.
 2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises locking dowels disposed in pre-formed bores provided at predetermined positions on said shelf and in said one end of each of said step members, respective appropriate ones of the bores in said shelf assuming coaxial alignment with the bores in said step members in said second position of the shelf to form through bores between the shelf and said step members and permit insertion of respective locking dowels therein to lock the shelf and step members together. 